(带文稿)0112：冬天尝试下在室内种点佐料吧【文末小测】

This undated photo shows a rosemary plant, left, and a Bay Laurel, right, in New Paltz, NY. Rosemary is an herb ideal for growing on a windowsill in winter, provides aroma, flavoring and beauty. (Lee Reich via AP)

Transcript

Do you want to grow plants inside during the cold weather? If so, you may want to consider some plants that can flavor your food and make your home smell nice at the same time.

We are talking about the herbs rosemary and bay laurel.

Both plants do well inside, near a sunny window in the cold weather as long as the temperature is warm and you keep them watered.

Both rosemary and bay laurel come from the part of the world near the Mediterranean Sea. The area is cool but not icy during winter and it gets lots of sunlight.

Gardening expert Lee Reich of the Associated Press says it is important to keep these plants “happy and alive” in the cooler months.

So, how do you do it?

For rosemary, water level is very important. The plant needs soil that is a little bit wet all the time but never soaked. Too much water will kill the plant. You can plant rosemary in a container with soil that is about 25 percent sand, perlite or vermiculite. Perlite and vermiculite help soil hold water.

Rosemary can add a nice taste to food but it also can make a room smell good. So if you have it growing inside, it is a good idea to place the container near an airflow source, like a door that is used often. That way the pleasant smell of rosemary floats through the air.

Bay laurel has dark, green leaves and produces a nice smell when picked. When added to food, Reich notes, it makes soups and tomato sauces taste better. You need to crush the leaves after you pick them to release the flavor.

If you want to grow the plants inside to make your home look good, you can cut unwanted branches from the plant as it grows and make it look like a small tree. You will not hurt the plant if you do this. Most plants that grow this way get a little bit taller than 65 centimeters.

Rosemary and bay laurel can live for more than 10 years if they are cared for.

Every two years it is a good idea to replace the soil and add the plant to a larger container.

You can move them outside when the weather gets warm. The plants will like the change. And you can welcome the rosemary and bay laurel back into your home for many winters to come.

I’m Dan Friedell.

QUIZ【答案见下方词汇表后】

What did the gardening expert say about how to use bay laurel during the winter?

A. Lee Reich said bay laurel should be placed outside for some of the time during the winter.

B. He said bay laurel makes soups and sauces taste better.

C. The expert said you can pick bay laurel and put it directly into food.

D. Bay laurel can be used to add a nice flavor to baked items.

What did Lee Reich say about how to care for the herb rosemary during the winter?

A. He said you should only water the plant once in a while.

B. Reich suggested you keep the rosemary in a dark, cool room.

C. He said adding sand to the soil is important so it can help hold water longer.

D. The expert said you should keep the temperature high during the winter.

What are some reasons why bay laurel and rosemary still grow well indoors during the winter?

A. The herbs come from the area near the Mediterranean Sea where it is cool but not icy.
B. Bay laurel and rosemary do well by a sunny window.
C. The plants do not need much more than sunlight and moist soil.
D. All of these answers are correct.

What can you do with rosemary and bay laurel once the weather gets warm again?

A. It's a good idea to trim the plants before you put them back outside.

B. You can move the plants back outside in the warm weather.
C. You can keep them outside for 10 years.
D. None of these answers are correct.

Words in This Story

herb – n. a plant or a part of a plant that is used as medicine or to give flavor to food

soak – v. to make (someone or something) very wet with water or another liquid

soup – n. a food made by cooking vegetables, meat, or fish in a large amount of liquid

sauce – n. a thick liquid that is eaten with or on food to add flavor to it

crush – v. to break (something) into a powder or very small pieces by pressing, pounding, or grinding it

branch – n. a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk

【BCDB】